The Facts Behind the Trump Tower Meeting Are Incriminating, but Not for Trump

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. . .Don Jr. was emailed by a British music promoter, Rob Goldstone, who promised that the Russian “crown prosecutor” had information that would “incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia.” When the meeting took place, in walked two Russian nationals, Rinat Akhmetshin and Natalia Veselnitskaya, who proceeded to talk to Don Jr., Jared Kushner, and others about how Americans could once again adopt Russian children, if only the Magnitsky Act were repealed. Eyes surely rolled, and the meeting was ended. Kushner even messaged his assistant to try to come up with an excuse to leave the meeting early. . .

CNN’s Chris Cillizza called the anonymously sourced report a “collusion bombshell,” and said it was maybe the “most important [event] of Donald Trump’s presidency.” One wonders how many times CNN and its employees have said similar things, only to see their hopes dashed?

The truth is that it doesn’t matter whether Trump knew of this meeting or not, or whether Mueller can ever prove that he did. Don Jr. and his associates did nothing wrong in setting up this meeting. But the events surrounding the meeting are damning for the intelligence agencies, the media, and the Democrat Party. . .

At the time of this meeting, the public did not know that Democratic National Committee emails had been stolen. Only the DNC and the Clinton campaign knew that. On June 9, 2016, everyone in conservative-ville, including Don Jr., was still hoping to discover the 30,000 emails that Hillary Clinton deleted from the home-brew server she used while secretary of state. . .

Somebody colluded with Russia, and it wasn’t Donald Trump. Veselnitskaya and Akhmetshin were working to repeal the Magnitsky Act for the Kremlin with none other than Fusion GPS, the same opposition research firm the DNC and Clinton campaign had hired in April 2016 to dig up—or create—ties between Trump and Russia. (Read more from “The Facts Behind the Trump Tower Meeting Are Incriminating, but Not for Trump” HERE)

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Trump Launches Religious Freedom Task Force to Undo Another Obama Legacy

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On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the formation of a Religious Liberty Task Force to protect the conscience rights of Americans from being violated by government regulations.

“Today I am announcing our next step: the Religious Liberty Task Force, to be co-chaired by the Associate Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy—Jesse and Beth,” Sessions said at a Department of Justice Religious Liberty Summit.

“The Task Force will help the Department fully implement our religious liberty guidance by ensuring that all Justice Department components are upholding that guidance in the cases they bring and defend, the arguments they make in court, the policies and regulations they adopt, and how we conduct our operations. That includes making sure that our employees know their duties to accommodate people of faith,” he explained.

The formation of this task force follows an October memo from Sessions broadly directing the Department of Justice to make accommodations to protect religious liberty. In his remarks, Sessions warned of “dangerous” anti-religious sentiments in the country threatening the rights protected by First Amendment.

“A dangerous movement, undetected by many, is now challenging and eroding our great tradition of religious freedom. There can be no doubt. This is no little matter. It must be confronted and defeated,” Sessions said.

“We have gotten to the point where courts have held that morality cannot be a basis for law; where ministers are fearful to affirm, as they understand it, holy writ from the pulpit; and where one group can actively target religious groups by labeling them a ‘hate group’ on the basis of their sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Sessions cited examples of Americans being forced by government to violate their conscience, notably “nuns ordered to buy contraceptives” — referencing the plight of The Little Sisters of the Poor — and the bigoted anti-Catholic questions asked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., of Judge Amy Coney Barrett at her confirmation hearing last September.

He said the Department of Justice will remain in contact with religious groups across the country to continue to improve its policies and respect religious liberty.

“This administration is animated by that same American view that has led us for 242 years: that every American has a right to believe, worship, and exercise their faith in the public square,” Sessions said. (For more from the author of “Trump Launches Religious Freedom Task Force to Undo Another Obama Legacy” please click HERE)

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CNN Host Wonders Why Obama Is Partying While Dems Are in Disarray

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Former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle were spotted dancing at a Beyoncé and Jay-Z concert over the weekend in Maryland. CNN’s Jake Tapper thought it was pretty bad timing. The Democratic Party is currently dealing with a schism that has pitted moderates or mainstream lawmakers against young progressives. Statistics show that the party is well outpaced by Republicans on the national and local level. Yet, there was Obama dancing the night away.

Does Tapper have a point? Should Obama be doing more to address his party’s concerns? They could certainly use some help. When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Rep. Joe Crowley in shocking fashion in New York, top Democrats panicked. Some, like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, tried to downplay the young progressive’s victory. Sure, Ocasio-Cortez may represent those radical New Yorkers in the 14th congressional district, but the country as a whole? Don’t get “carried away,” Pelosi said. (Read more from “CNN Host Wonders Why Obama Is Partying While Dems Are in Disarray” HERE)

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Brutal: Examining Ocasio-Cortez’s Painful Answer on Funding Her Socialist Utopia

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As we flagged on Friday, media sensation and instant lefty icon Alexandria Ocasio Cortez appeared on the Daily Show last week, where she was confronted with a relatively simple question by host Trevor Noah. Ocasio Cortez is campaigning on a laundry list of new government programs and entitlements, including “Medicare for All,” free college, and a “universal jobs guarantee.” But how does she intend to pay for for this calorie-exploding buffet of government largesse? Her response to that fundamental challenge was a bit of a jumbled mess, to put it rather mildly:

After muttering some words about “back of the envelope” calculations and touting a discussion with a Nobel Prize-winning economist, she exclaimed that if wealthy people and corporations would just pay their “fair share,” her dreams could become realities. What was remarkable about her answer was not that she deployed standard-issue Democratic talking points invoking Warren Buffett’s secretary; you could abruptly wake virtually any left-of-center political figure from a deep sleep and quiz them about long term federal debt, and he or she would groggily start mumbling and “fairness.” No, what was most interesting about AOC’s reply was how simultaneously honest and incoherent it was. She proposes “reversing” the tax reform law, which would result in a $2 trillion tax increase on families and businesses. The economy is booming in large measure because job creators have finally been afforded precious certainty, and because America’s grossly uncompetitive corporate tax rates were made much more competitive. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are feeling better about their economic conditions because they have more disposable income, thanks to an across-the-board lowering of the federal tax burden, across all income groups. AOC wants to undo that progress and apply the additional revenue toward government programs.

. . .

Ocasio Cortez’s idea is to reduce spending on the military…in order to vastly expand already-troubled healthcare and retirement programs. The math doesn’t even come close to adding up. Defenders of Cortez’s socialist vision have responded to these inconvenient realities by contending that other western nations manage to pull of government-run healthcare, so we make it work — or by flatly stating that specifics aside, we’ll somehow find a way to finance the scheme:

(Read more from “Brutal: Examining Ocasio-Cortez’s Painful Answer on Funding Her Socialist Utopia” HERE)

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Major U.S. City Terminates Contract With ICE

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Caving to progressive demands, the city of Philadelphia announced it is ending a major contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement sharing real-time arrest information. . .

The information, contained in Philadelphia’s Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System (PARS), alerts authorities when new arrests are made, and includes arrestee’s full names, countries of origin, and Social Security numbers. While PARS does not indicate immigration status, Democrats charged that ICE nevertheless abused the database to investigate potential immigration violations.

Anyone who interacts with law enforcement is entered into the database, including those who are arrested, victims and witnesses, with some limits on what ICE officers can view. (FoxNews.com)

“I cannot in good conscience allow the agreement to continue,” Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney, who celebrated the city’s sanctuary status last month, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’re not going to provide them with information so they can go out and round people up.” . . .

[I]n a statement to Fox News, ICE officials reiterated that the agency had not breached its agreement with Philadelphia in any way, including by engaging in racial profiling or accessing information without the city’s approval. They added that they were “deeply disappointed” in the city’s decision, saying the city had not pointed to any specific instances of alleged misconduct by ICE.

(Read more from “Major U.S. City Terminates Contract With ICE” HERE)

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Maxine Waters Responds Defiantly to Trump’s Threat to Shut Down the Government

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Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) responded with scorn and defiance to a tweet from President Donald Trump threatening to shut down the government if his border wall wasn’t funded by Congress. . .

“A shutdown, a government shutdown isn’t good for either party. Nobody looks good when one happens,” said anchor David Gura. “How did you react to what the president tweeted this morning? How real a threat do you think it is we could be facing a government shutdown in the fall?” . . .

“He’s not going to shut down anything,” she claimed. “As a matter of fact, people will remember that he said he was going to build this wall, and he was going to make Mexico pay for the wall. They said they weren’t going to pay for anything.”

“Now he wants the American citizens to pay for this wall,” Waters continued, “American citizens are not going to pay for this wall.”

“He’s not going to shut down the government,” she concluded, “and we are not going to be intimidated by his bluffing and his bullying.”

(Read more from “Maxine Waters Responds Defiantly to Trump’s Threat to Shut Down the Government” HERE)

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Man Steals Border Patrol ATV After Knocking Agent off It With Rock. So Agents Pull out Their Guns.

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By The Blaze. A man reportedly brought a rock to gun fight with Border Patrol agents — and wasn’t terribly successful in the end.

San Diego police said the man — believed to be 19 years old — was stopped by agents in an area known as Spooner’s Mesa near the U.S.-Mexico border around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, KSWB-TV reported.

Police said a fight broke out and an agent was knocked off his ATV with a rock, the station reported, adding that the suspect jumped on the agent’s ATV and took off.

A pursuit ensued but soon ended when the suspect lost control of the ATV, crashed into a fence, and was taken into custody, KSWB reported.

During the incident, at least two agents fired their weapons at the suspect and hit him at least once, the station said. The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound that wasn’t believed to be life-threatening, police told KSWB. (Read more from “Man Steals Border Patrol ATV After Knocking Agent off It With Rock. So Agents Pull out Their Guns.” HERE)

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Border Patrol Shoots Teen Suspected of Throwing Rock, Stealing Agent’s ATV

By Fox 5. A man is accused of hitting a Border Patrol agent with a rock and stealing his ATV before he was shot by agents and arrested near the Tijuana River estuary early Sunday.

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot injury, which was not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

The incident began around 2:30 a.m. in an area known as Spooner’s Mesa, between the US-Mexico border and Monument Road, San Diego police Homicide Captain Thomas Underwood said. “In the course of that contact a fight ensued, and an agent was knocked off his ATV with a rock. The suspect then jumped onto the agent’s ATV and a pursuit ensued where the suspect eventually lost control, crashed and was taken into custody. During the incident at least two border patrol agents fired their weapons at the suspect.” (Read more from “Border Patrol Shoots Teen Suspected of Throwing Rock, Stealing Agent’s ATV” HERE)

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Boy Suffers Horrible Injuries Because of This Online ‘Challenge’ Teens Are Taking

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A fifteen-year-old in Indianapolis, Indiana, suffered painful injuries after his alleged friend poured scalding hot water on him while he slept as a part of the “hot water challenge.” . . .

The “hot water challenge” is a fad among teenagers who record each other pouring boiling water on themselves or others, or trying to drink scalding water through a straw. The absolutely foolish “challenge” has led to terrible and sometimes lethal consequences.

Kyland Clark suffered second degree burns on his back, his chest and face because of the misguided act of his friend.

He says that he and his friend looked up the challenge on the internet and decided to participate. But when he fell asleep, his friend decided to surprise him. . .

Clark was treated for his injuries in the hospital for a week. Doctors say his skin should heal, but it will take several months.

(Read more from “Boy Suffers Horrible Injuries Because of This Online ‘Challenge’ Teens Are Taking” HERE)

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Trump Asked If He Has a ‘Red Line’ on Border Funding — His Response Invokes Obama

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By The Daily Caller. President Trump answered tough questions about his border wall and immigration plan Monday at the White House during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuesppe Conte. . .

“Are you saying you would be willing to shut the government down in September if it does not fully fund $25 billion for the border wall and also deliver the immigration priorities that you listed in your tweet? Or are you leaving some room for negotiation there?” [Saagar] Enjeti asked. Earlier Monday, Trump threatened shutting down the government in a tweet:

. . .

As a follow up, Enjeti asked “Is the $25 billion a red line for you?” The Trump administration is requesting $25 billion for the creation of a border wall.

Trump took the opportunity to dunk on his predecessor President Obama in the response.

“I have no red line unlike President Obama. I just want great border security. Okay?” Trump said. (Read more from “Trump Asked If He Has a ‘Red Line’ on Border Funding — His Response Invokes Obama” HERE)

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Trump Praises Italy’s Immigration Policies

By Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Italy’s increasingly hard-line approach to immigration on Monday, at the start of a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the White House.

“I agree very much with what you are doing with respect to migration, and illegal immigration, and even legal immigration,” Trump told Conte in the Oval Office. “He has taken a very firm stance on the border, a stance that few countries have taken. And frankly he is doing the right thing in my opinion.”

Conte took office last month promising to bring radical change to Italy, including more generous welfare provision and a crackdown on immigration.

Immigration was a major election issue after an influx of hundreds of thousands of mostly African asylum seekers. Italy has seen more than 650,000 migrants reach its shores since 2014.

Conte has said his government would end “the immigration business.” (Read more from “Trump Praises Italy’s Immigration Policies” HERE)

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Kavanaugh Has His Most Important Meeting yet for the Supreme Court

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Judge Brett Kavanaugh met with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for 90 minutes Monday, his first private interview with a Democratic lawmaker since his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Manchin, who is standing for re-election this November in a state President Donald Trump won by 40 percentage points, pressed the judge on health care, as another challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) advances through federal courts.

“Judge Kavanaugh and I had a productive meeting and talked about his experience, record and a variety of issues that will impact West Virginians, including his views on healthcare,” Manchin said after the interview. He noted another challenge to the ACA is currently advancing through the federal courts, which could imperil insurance coverage for some 800,000 of his constituents with pre-existing conditions.

Kavanaugh’s record with the ACA is somewhat complex. He was openly hostile to the law’s contraception mandate in a 2015 decision, arguing it placed a substantial burden on the rights of religious dissenters. However, in a 2011 opinion he declined to strike the ACA down, instead finding that the case before him should be dismissed for technical reasons.

In arguing for dismissal, Kavanaugh maintained that the ACA’s individual mandate — which requires people to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty — qualified as a tax for purposes of a federal law called the Anti-Injunction Act. One year later, a five-justice majority on the Supreme Court also concluded the mandate was a tax, but on different grounds than Kavanaugh. (Read more from “Kavanaugh Has His Most Important Meeting yet for the Supreme Court” HERE)

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